The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-08

"when he is old he will not depart from
it," both observation and experience
prove to be not an over-estimate Of the
value and force of early instruction.
But they who pronounce upon the sue
cess of their lives by the success of
their plans and energies they who
pass judgment upon their aims and
purposes-largely by the results visible,
judge unfairly.
True, the tree is known by its fruit"
But the real nature of the tree is not
affected by the destructive work of an
insect, or blighting frost that prevents
the fruit from reaching its maturity.
The circumstance Of enemies must be
taken..into account. The verdict would
be unjust without this consideration.
These accidents, however, that render
it impossible for the tree to yield its
fruit, do not initiate against the true
nature of the tree. 1t is still of the
species prat1us, or of the genus pyrls,
Or ,Gnlygddlals, and under the true con-
ditions OF growth and fruitage would pro-
duce heperfect cherry, apple and peach.
Circumstances were against my friend
who followed his son to drupkard's
grave. His example, his home instruc-
ton were for temperance and sebriety;
the accident of bad company, and bad
municipal government rendered the
home influence incapable of bringing
forth its legitimate results-the insect
had stung the fruit, the blight of sin
had struck the tender blossom-and
there was loss and destruction. But
the parent tree had not changed its
nature. The same strong life current
flowed on-the nature and the purpose
were the same. For the outcome of
correct moral and religious instruction
the teacher is in no measure responsible.
Rightly considered, the career of pu-
pill can confer neither praise nor CEN
sure upon his instructor providing, of
course, the instruction has been of the
best kind and quality that he can COM
mand, and impaired with the full de-
gree of conscientiousness with which
he is endowed. But the lesson days are
his trial days; days Of soul agony-of
intense solicitude-of momentous re-
sponsibility--days in which he hourly
stands before the judgment seat Of God.
The lesson days go by, and the instruc-
tor may now calmly watch the career of
those whose every act in those other
days awoke within him thrill of joy,
or pang of pain. With the work he
had all to do; with its results, nothing.
Thank God there is limit to human
responsibility-there is to the earnest
and conscientious doer point where
his responsibility ceases-a time when
he may feel, 81 have done my duty;
for what may follow am not respon-
sible. have done. Between God and
myself, all is clear. The results, be
they what they may-for them take
to myself neither credit nor blame.
They and the work are distinct in their
relation to me-" Often in this thought
alone can the disappointed parent, the
teacher of moral and religious truths
find comfort, and in any measure salts
faction, as he passes in review the
years of toll and sacrifice that he has
bestowed-painful, anxious, toilsome
years from which such meagre and I'M
satisfactory results have followed. All
this and much more might be said
to that large class of earnest, conseien-
tious, but disappointed ones-teachers
and philanthropists, who, having given
their best years to the PRONUNCIATION of
moral principles and sentiments to
the promotion of great cause, then
see defeat and failure meet their efforts;
to parents, who, by precept and exam
pie, have endeavored to guide their
children in the right way, but who have
been compelled to see other influences
gain the ascendency, and the young
feet taking the downward course, if
not to positively evil ways, often to a life
of frivolity, of indifference to the true
interests of life-of selfshness- that
continued falling short of what they are
capable of doing and being al of
which results in putting into the world
the sort of boys and girls who will
never fill the place of father and mother
in home, society, church, business.
But the consolation and the clear con-
science are for those alone who have
earned them, and this number falls far
short of the full ranks of the disap-
pointed ones; for among this number
are many who expect to receive, hav
ing given nOthing,-who, having with
held the hand from the seed time,
would stretch it out to harvest the SOW
ing of others.
And this is what they do who expect
of their children large degree of rev.
erence for the things that are holy-a
true religious spirit that approaches
sacred subjects with the sentiment and
devotion that is elevating and beauti-
ful of itself, and yet by their first and
highest teacher-the parent-have been
untaught in these things. Many worthy
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